Tonneau cover system and ratchet clamp

ABSTRACT

A tonneau cover system clamp can include first and second clamp members with first and second clamping surfaces, respectively. The second clamp member can be slidably coupled to an elongate member relative to the first clamp member. A locking mechanism can be movable to engage the elongate member to prevent lateral translation of the second clamping surface relative to the first clamping surface in response to the first and the second clamp members being in the locked position. The locking mechanism can be movable to release the elongate member to allow lateral translation of the second clamping surface relative to the first clamping surface in response to the first and the second clamp members being in the unlocked position. A biasing member can apply a biasing force biasing the first clamp member and the second clamp member toward the proximal end of the elongate member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/875,006 filed on Oct. 5, 2015, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 62/060,637, filed on Oct. 7, 2014. Thisapplication claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/323,052, filed on Apr. 15, 2016. The entirety of each of the aboveapplications is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to tonneau covers for vehicles. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to a clamp system for usein a tonneau cover system.

BACKGROUND

Tonneau covers have been used for a number of years to cover the cargobox of pickup trucks against dirt, debris, and other environmentalcontaminants and to improve the aesthetic quality thereof. Originally,tonneau covers were designed by upholstery shops and typically made ofvinyl covered fabrics or canvas. The material was often doubled overalong its edges for added strength and appearance. Male snaps were thenattached to the sides of the cargo box of the pickup truck viafasteners, while female snaps were attached along the edges of thecover. Wooden bows were sometimes used to span the cargo box and ensurethat the cover remained high enough to drain water. Unfortunately, thesecovers were sometimes difficult to handle and/or manufacture, andoccasionally failed to protect the cargo box.

More recently, foldable tonneau covers are often more desirable in thatthey conveniently cover the bed of the pickup truck for cargoprotection. However, when not in use, the foldable tonneau cover may befolded toward the rear of the passenger cabin (or other location).Generally, foldable tonneau covers include a frame network of crossbows, a tarp or covering operably coupled to and spanning the framenetwork, a latching or clamp system for coupling the frame network tothe pickup truck and a means for stowing the clamp system, and a hingesystem for hingedly coupling adjacent sections of the foldable tonneaucover. However, the known prior art fails to maximize the ease andeffectiveness of foldable tonneau covers and, thus, many foldabletonneau covers suffer from numerous disadvantages.

By way of example, existing clamp systems generally employ anover-center cam lock arrangement, wing nut clamp arrangement, and/orspring biased clamp arrangement to fasten the tonneau cover in placerelative to the pickup truck. The clamps typically hook onto thedownwardly projecting (metal) flange of the truck bed. Such clamps, inthe case of the cam lock arrangement, are adjustable by rotating athreaded cam pivot to permit attachment of the clamps to pickup truckswith differing length downwardly projecting flanges. The other clampingsystems can use threaded portions or other telescoping type mechanismsto provide a length adjustment feature.

However, these clamping systems lead to various problems or failureswhen used with more recent pickup truck bed designs produced by originalequipment manufacturers (OEM). For instance, many of the newer sidewallflanges of pickup truck beds can become deformed under the extreme loadthat can be exerted by clamping systems. In fact, several new vehiclesbeing designed are contemplating changes to the flange material orreducing the flange thickness. The result is a less structural flangewhich could be distorted when using typical tonneau clamp designsclamped to such downwardly extending flanges of the truck bed box.Consequently, as a conventional tonneau cover clamp is tightened inplace, a user can exert sufficient force that causes the sidewall flangeof the pickup truck bed to become permanently deformed.

Accordingly, there exists a need in the relevant art to provide atonneau cover system capable of overcoming the disadvantages of theprior art. Additionally, there exists a need to provide sufficientretention capability to retain the tonneau cover on the pickup truckbed, without causing permanent deformation.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a tonneau coversystem for a cargo box comprising a downwardly extending flange isprovided. The system can include a tonneau cover for covering the cargobox and a clamp to secure the tonneau cover to the cargo box. The clampcan include an elongate member having a proximal end pivotably coupledto the tonneau cover. A first clamp member can have a first clampingsurface. A second clamp member can be slidably coupled to the elongatemember and can have a second clamping surface. The second clamp membercan be slidable along the elongate member relative to the first clampmember between a locked position and an unlocked position. A lockingmechanism can be coupled to the first clamp member. The lockingmechanism can be movable to engage the elongate member to preventlateral translation of the second clamping surface relative to the firstclamping surface in response to the first and the second clamp membersbeing in the locked position. The locking mechanism can be movable torelease the elongate member to allow lateral translation of the secondclamping surface relative to the first clamping surface in response tothe first and the second clamp members being in the unlocked position. Abiasing member can apply a biasing force biasing the first clamp memberand the second clamp member toward the proximal end of the elongatemember.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a tonneaucover system with a ratchet clamp in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of one exemplary embodiment of a ratchetclamp for the tonneau cover system of FIG. 1 in a clamped position, witha partial cross-sectional view of a cargo box.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of components of the tonneau coversystem with the ratchet clamp of FIG. 2 in a clamped position, with aportion of the cargo box.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing variouscomponents of the ratchet clamp of FIG. 2 in the unclamped position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing variouscomponents of the ratchet clamp of FIG. 2 in the clamped position.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the ratchet clamp of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of aratchet clamp for the tonneau cover system of FIG. 1 in accordance withthe present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the ratchet clamp of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of various components of the ratchetclamp of FIG. 2 in a clamped position.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9 with the ratchetclamp of FIG. 2 in an unclamped position.

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the ratchet clamp of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views of another exemplaryembodiment of a ratchet clamp for the tonneau cover system of FIG. 1 inaccordance with the present disclosure, in a locked or clamped positionor state.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are cross-section views of the ratchet clamp of FIGS. 12and 13 in an unlocked or unclamped position or state.

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the ratchet clamp of FIGS. 12 and 13.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate one exemplary tonneau cover system 10 for coveringa truck bed or cargo box 11 in accordance with the present disclosure.In some cases, the truck bed or cargo box 11 can be part of a pickuptruck 13 as shown. The cargo box 11 includes a frame that can have anouter wall 16, a ledge 18 extending inboard from the outer wall 16 and aflange 20 extending downwardly from the ledge 18 and spaced inboard fromthe outer wall 16. The flange 20 can include a lower, or downwardlydisposed or facing distal edge 22.

In some embodiments, the tonneau cover 10 can include a plurality ofsections 12 foldable between a deployed arrangement covering the truckbed 11 and a folded arrangement wherein the sections 12 are stacked,allowing access to the truck bed 11. In some embodiments, each section12 of the tonneau cover system 10 can comprise a plurality of frameand/or bow members 31 that together form a rectangular frame supportinga fabric, textile or other flexible sheet material 14 spanning therectangular frame 31. In some embodiments, each of the plurality oftonneau sections 12 can alternatively comprise a generally rigid panelas the spanning material 14, and which can optionally include framemembers 31 around the periphery of the rigid panel 14 that can similarlyform the rectangular frame 31. Other tonneau cover configurations are,of course, possible.

The tonneau cover system 10 can include a ratchet clamp 26 pivotablycoupled to one of the frame members 31. For example, the frame member 31can comprise an extruded metal rail having a C-shaped cross-sectiondefining a longitudinal internal channel 28 with a longitudinallyextending central opening 30. A barrel member 32 can be rotatably andslidably retained within the channel 28. The clamp 26 can include anelongate member that can be a rod 34 and that can be coupled to apivotable coupling that can be the barrel member 32. The rod 34 canextend out of the channel 28 through the opening 30 to pivotably couplethe clamp 26 to the frame member 31.

The ratchet clamp 26 can include a housing 36 slidably mounted on therod 34. The housing 36 can be formed of a first housing portion 38 and asecond housing portion 40 movable along the central longitudinal axis 33of the rod 34 relative to each other between a locked position and anunlocked position. The second housing portion 40 can include a channel42 positioned to receive the downwardly disposed distal edge 22.

A locking mechanism 44 can be coupled to the housing 36. In someembodiments, the locking mechanism 44 can include one or more lockingpawls 44 pivotably coupled to the second housing portion 40. Forexample, the locking pawls 44 can include bulbous portions 45 retainedwithin semi-circular recesses 41 of the second housing portion 40. Thelocking mechanism or pawls 44 can move, such as by pivoting, betweenlocked and unlocked positions corresponding to the locked and unlockedpositions of the first and second housing portions, 38 and 40,respectively. FIG. 4 illustrates the clamp 26 of FIG. 2 in the unlockedposition, and FIG. 5 illustrates this clamp 26 in the locked position.The locking mechanism and elongate member can comprise cooperatingengagement members to provide locking engagement therebetween. Examplesof cooperating locking engagement members can include teeth, notches,grooves, knurled surfaces, or combinations of these and many others.

When the locking mechanism 44 and housing 36 are in the unlockedposition as seen, e.g., in FIG. 4, the locking mechanism 44 can bepositioned away from the elongate member 34 to release the elongatemember 34 and allow movement of the channel 42 relative to the elongatemember 34. When the locking mechanism 44 and housing 36 are in thelocked position as seen, e.g., in FIG. 5, the locking mechanism 44 canbe positioned to engage the elongate member 34 to prevent movement ofthe channel 42 relative to the elongate member 34. In some embodiments,the elongate member can be a threaded rod 34, and the locking mechanismcan be locking pawls 44 that can engage the threads 46 of the rod 34 inthe locked position. Although the threads 46 can extend along all orsubstantially all of the length of the threaded rod 34, the threads 46are shown in the drawings only where they are engaged by the lockingpawls 44 in order to simplify the drawings. Alternative lockingmechanisms 44 can be used instead of the cooperating locking pawl 44 androd 34 threads 46.

The latch 26 can include a biasing member 48 to apply a biasing force tothe housing 36 which biases the housing 36 toward the tonneau cover 10or its sheet material 14, or toward the proximal end 50 of the elongatemember 34. In some embodiments, the biasing member 48 can be mounted onthe elongate member 34 between a threaded nut 58 and the housing 36 andcan engage the first housing portion 38 of the housing 36. The firsthousing portion 38 of the housing 36 can include a first contact 52,which can be an internal protrusion or surface, positioned to engageagainst the locking pawls 44 to move the locking pawls 44 toward theelongate member 34 as the first and second housing portions, 38 and 40,respectively, move from the unlocked position toward the lockedposition. Thus, the first housing portion 38 of the housing 40 cantransfer the biasing force to the locking mechanism 44 so the biasingforce operates to bias both the locking mechanism 44 and the first andsecond housing portions, 38 and 40, respectively, toward theircorresponding locked positions.

In some embodiments, the first housing portion 38 of the housing 36 caninclude a second contact 54, which can be an internal protrusion orsurface, positioned to engage against the locking pawls 44 to move thelocking pawls 44 away from the threaded rod 34 as the first and secondhousing portions, 38 and 40, respectively, move from the locked positiontoward the unlocked locked position. The second housing portion 40 canbe positioned closer to the first housing portion 38 in the lockedposition than in the unlocked position. As in the exemplary embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the first housing portion 38 can be anintegral or one-piece component comprising both the first contact 52 andthe second contact 54.

As in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, a secondbiasing member 56 can be positioned and engage between the first housingportion 38 and the second housing portion 40 to apply a biasing force tobias the housing 36 toward the unlocked position. Thus, the firsthousing portion 38 of the housing 40 can transfer the second biasingforce to the locking pawls 44, via second contact 54 so the secondbiasing force of the second biasing member 56 operates to bias both thelocking mechanism 44 and the first and second housing portions, 38 and40, respectively, toward their corresponding unlocked positions.

The housing 36 can include a manual grasping feature 60 to facilitatemanual movement of the housing 36 by a user away from the proximal end50 of the rod 34 or the tonneau cover 10, and against the biasing forceof the biasing member 48. The first housing portion 38 can comprise themanual grasping feature 60. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, thegrasping feature 60 can be positioned on a distal end of the firsthousing portion 38 and the grasping feature 60 can comprise a handleshaped member.

To clamp the tonneau cover system 10 to the cargo box 11, a usermanually engages the grasping feature 60 and pulls the first housingportion 38 away from the tonneau cover 10, downwardly, or toward thedistal end 51 of the rod 34. During this operation, the second biasingmember 56 tends to retain the housing portions, 40 and 38, and lockingpawls 44 in their respective unlocked positions. Thus, the user canpivot the clamp 26 via coupling 32 so that the channel 42 is positionedunder the flange 20 in preparation for latching.

In this position, as the user releases or reduces the downward manualforce provided via the grasping feature 60, the biasing force of thebiasing member 48 causes the housing 36 to move upward toward thedownwardly disposed distal edge 22 of the flange 20. Simultaneously, thesecond biasing member 56 biases both the locking pawls 44 and the firstand second housing portions, 38 and 40, respectively, toward theircorresponding unlocked positions as previously described.

Upon contact between the downwardly disposed distal edge 22 and thechannel 42, continued release of the downward manual force results inthe biasing force of biasing member 48 driving both the locking pawls 44and the first and second housing portions, 38 and 40, respectively, intotheir locked position. This is because the biasing force of biasingmember 48 is greater than and sufficient to overcome the second biasingforce of the second biasing member 56. As should be apparent, the onlyupwardly directed force the clamp 26 is capable of exerting upwardlyagainst the downwardly disposed distal edge 22 is provided by thebiasing member 48. Thus, the maximum force that the clamp 26 can exertduring the clamping operation is limited to the biasing force that thebiasing member can provide. Thus, the clamp 26 can help insure that theclamping force exerted on the flange 20 during the clamping operation isinsufficient to permanently deform the flange.

When unlatching the clamp 26, a user again manually engages the graspingfeature 60 and pulls the first housing portion 38 away from the tonneaucover 10, downwardly, or toward the distal end 51 of the rod 34.Initially, the second biasing member 56 provides a second biasing forcethat tends to move the housing portions, 38 and 40, toward theirrespective unlocked positions. Once the channel 42 can clear thedownwardly disposed distal edge 22 of the flange 20, the user can pivotthe clamp 26 via coupling 32 so that the channel 42 is positioned clearof the flange. In this position, continued release of the grasping forcewill continue to move the housing 36 upward, toward the proximal end 50of the rod 34, or toward the tonneau cover material 14.

The distal end of the first housing portion 38 can also include a detent62 to engage edges of the opening 30 of the rail 31 to retain the clamp26 at least partially within the channel 28 when the clamp 26 is pivotedto such a retained recessed position in which the primary longitudinalaxis 33 of the clamp 26 and the central longitudinal axis of the rail 31can be substantially aligned or parallel. A cantilevered arm or springmember 64 can comprise the detent 62. In other words, the detent 62 canbe positioned on a cantilevered arm or spring member 64.

FIGS. 7-11 illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of a ratchet clamp26 that can be used alternatively or additionally in a tonneau coversystem 10 for covering a truck bed or cargo box 11 in accordance withthe present disclosure. As illustrated, the same reference numerals areused in FIGS. 7-11 as were used in FIGS. 2-6 to identify correspondingelements, even though the illustrated elements may have somewhatdifferent shapes or functions. Accordingly, much of the discussionprovided above with respect to the first exemplary embodiment will notbe repeated here with respect to this second exemplary embodiment. Thus,the description below focuses on particular structural or functionaldifferences, while other differences will be apparent from the drawingsthemselves.

In this exemplary embodiment, the first housing portion 38 comprises twoseparate components, 37 and 39. The second housing portion 40 can bepositioned between the two separate housing components, 37 and 39, ofthe first housing portion 38. Like the first exemplary embodiment, thesecond housing portion 40 can move along the rod 34 relative to thefirst housing portion 38. The first component 39 of the first housingportion 38, however, can also be moved or slid along the length ofelongate member 34 relative to the second component 37 of the firsthousing portion 38. For example, the first and second housingcomponents, 39 and 37, respectively, can be grasped and pulled away fromeach other. Because the first contact 52 is integral with the firsthousing component 39 of the first housing portion 38 and the secondcontact 54 is integral with the second housing component 37, and thesecomponents are slidable along the rod 34 relative to each other, thefirst contact 52 and the second contact 54 are not part of an integralor one-piece component. Alternatively, they could be, e.g., by providinga connecting bridge member (not illustrated) between the first housingcomponents, 39 and 37, extending along the rod 34 without interferingwith engagement of the locking pawls 44 with the threads 46.

In this second embodiment, biasing member 48 engages and applies abiasing force to the first housing component 39 of the first housingportion 38. The first housing component 39 engages the locking pawls 44to transfer the biasing force to the locking pawls 44 and bias thelocking pawls 44 and the first housing component 39 and the secondhousing portion 40 toward their locked positions. In the lockedposition, the second housing portion 40 can be further from the firsthousing component 39 of the first housing portion 38 than in theunlocked position, and vice versa.

In addition, the biasing force of the biasing member 48 that istransferred to the pawls 44 can be further transferred via the pawls 44to the second housing component 37 of the first housing portion 38. Inthis way, the entirety of the housing, including the first and secondhousing components, 39 and 37, respectively, of the first housingportion 38 and the second housing portion 40, along with the lockingpawls 44, can all be biased toward the locked position by a singlebiasing member 48, despite the use of a two-component first housingportion 38.

The proximal end of the first housing portion 38 can be provided by thesecond housing component 37 thereof. The grasping feature 60 can beprovided on the second housing component 37 and at the proximal end ofthe first housing portion 38. As with this second embodiment, thegrasping feature 60 can comprise a reduced or expanded cross-sectionalportion, a textured surface, or both, to provide finger perches that canbe grasped between the fingers to facilitate manual movement of thehousing, 38 and 40, away from the tonneau cover 10 and proximal end 50of the threaded rod 34 and against the biasing force of the biasingmember 48.

Using this second clamp embodiment to clamp the tonneau cover system 10to the cargo box 11, a user manually engages the grasping feature 60 andpulls the first housing portion 38 away from the tonneau cover 10,downwardly, or toward the distal end 51 of the rod 34. During thisoperation, the manual force overcomes the biasing force of the biasingmember 48. Specifically, the manual force is transferred from the secondhousing component 37 of the first housing portion 38 to the pawls viaengagement between the contacts 54. The manual force is furthertransferred from the pawls 44 to the first component 39 of the firsthousing portion 38 where it can counteract the upward biasing force ofthe biasing member on the first component 39. In this way, the manualforce causes the housing portions, 40 and 38, and locking pawls 44 tomove into in their respective unlocked positions and to space thechannel 42 sufficiently away from the tonneau cover 10. In thisconfiguration, the user can pivot the clamp 26 via coupling 32 so thatthe channel 42 is positioned under the flange 20 in preparation forlatching.

In this position, as the user releases or reduces the downward manualforce provided via the grasping feature 60, the biasing force of thebiasing member 48 causes the housing 36 to move upward toward thedownwardly disposed distal edge 22 of the flange 20. Simultaneously, themanual force continues to retain both the locking pawls 44 and the firstand second housing portions, 38 and 40, respectively, toward theircorresponding unlocked positions as described above.

Upon contact between the downwardly disposed distal edge 22 and thechannel 42, continued release of the downward manual force results inthe biasing force of biasing member 48 driving both the locking pawls 44and the first and second housing portions, 38 and 40, respectively, intotheir locked position. As should be apparent, the only upwardly directedforce the clamp 26 is capable of exerting upwardly against thedownwardly disposed distal edge 22 is provided by the biasing member 48.Thus, the maximum force that the clamp 26 can exert during the clampingoperation is limited to the biasing force that the biasing member canprovide. Thus, the clamp 26 can help insure that the clamping forceexerted on the flange 20 during the clamping operation is insufficientto permanently deform the flange.

When unlatching the clamp 26, a user again manually engages the graspingfeature 60 and pulls the first housing portion 38 away from the tonneaucover 10, downwardly, or toward the distal end 51 of the rod 34. Themanual downward force is again transferred from the second housingcomponent 37 of the first housing portion 38 to the pawls 44, and fromthe pawls to the first housing component 39 of the first housing portion38, to counteract and overcome the upward biasing force of the firstbiasing member 48. Thus, the manual force tends to move the housingportions, 38 and 40, and the locking pawls 44 toward their respectiveunlocked positions, and the entire housing 36 downward toward the distalend 51 of the rod 34.

Once the channel 42 can clear the downwardly disposed distal edge 22 ofthe flange 20, the user can pivot the clamp 26 via coupling 32 so thatthe channel 42 is positioned clear of the flange. In this position,continued release of the grasping force will continue to move thehousing 36 upward, toward the proximal end 50 of the rod 34, or towardthe tonneau cover material 14, and until the various portions andcomponents of the housing 36 and the locking pawls again move into theirrespective locked positions under the influence of the biasing member 48as discussed above.

In the example embodiments of FIGS. 1-11, the second housing portion 40of the ratchet clamp includes the channel 42 that engages and clampsagainst the distal edge 22 flange 20 of the cargo box 11. In analternative embodiment, the ratchet clamp can include a first clampmember and a second member that moves relative to the first clampmember, such that in a locked state the first clamp member and thesecond clamp member can engage and apply a clamping force againstopposing lateral sides or faces 23, 24 of the flange 20 disposed betweenthe first clamp member and the second member. More particularly, withreference to FIGS. 12-16, a ratchet clamp 200 can include a first clampmember 202 and a second clamp member 204 that can be moveable withrespect to the first clamp member 202 to place the ratchet clamp 200 ina clamped position (FIGS. 12 and 13) and an unclamped position (FIGS. 14and 15). In the clamped position, the first clamp member 202 and thesecond clamp member 204 can engage and apply a clamping forcetherebetween. In the unclamped position, an enlarged gap is providedbetween first clamp member 202 and the second clamp member 204.

Similar to the ratchet clamp 26, the ratchet clamp 200 can also includethe barrel member 32, the rod 34, the locking mechanism 44, the firstbiasing member 48, and the second biasing member 56. The ratchet clamp200 can also include a housing 205 that comprises a first housingportion 206 and a second housing portion 208 slidably coupled to theelongate member 34. Similar to the first and second housing portions 38and 40, the first and second housing portions 206 and 208 can moverelative to each other between a locked or clamped position (FIGS. 12and 13) and an unlocked or unclamped position (FIGS. 14 and 15).

The first housing portion 206 can include an elongated handle or ahandle member 210 and a lock interface member 212. The handle member 210can include a grasp feature 214 that can be manually operated by theuser to lock and unlock the ratchet clamp 200, as described herein. Thesecond clamp member 204 can be positioned between the handle member 210and the lock interface member 212, and can be positioned to abut with asurface of the handle member 210.

The lock interface member 212 can include a first contact 214 and asecond contact 216, which are similar to the first contact 52 and thesecond contact 54, respectfully. For example, the first contact 214 canengage against the locking mechanism 44 and move the locking mechanism44 toward the rod 34 as the housing moves from the unlocked positiontoward the locked position. The second contact 216 can engage againstthe locking mechanism 44 to move the locking mechanism 44 away from therod 34 as the housing 205 moves from the locked position toward theunlocked locked position.

The locking mechanism 44 can be coupled to the housing 205. For example,the locking mechanism can be positioned between the lock interfacemember 212 and the second housing portion 208, and can be retainedwithin semi-circular recesses 218 defined by the second housing portion208.

The first biasing member 48 can be between the threaded nut 58 and thehandle member 210 of the first housing portion 206. The first biasingmember 48 can engage and apply a biasing force to the housing 205 inorder to bias the housing 205 toward the tonneau cover 10 or, in otherwords, toward the proximal end 50 of the rod 34. The second biasingmember 56 can be positioned and engage between the first housing portion206 and the second housing portion 208 to apply a second biasing forceto bias the housing 205 toward the unlocked position. The first housingportion 206 of the housing 205 can transfer the second biasing force tothe locking mechanism 44 via the second contact 216, so the secondbiasing force of the second biasing member 56 operates to bias both thelocking mechanism 44 and the first and second housing portions 206 and208 toward their corresponding unlocked positions.

The first clamp member 202 can be integrated with the second housingportion 208, and can include a first clamping surface 220 that canextend generally parallel to the longitudinal or central axis 33 of therod 34. The first clamping surface 220 can be disposed to engage aninboard side of the flange 20. Alternatively, the first clamp member 202can be separate from the second housing portion 208.

The second clamp member 204 can be mounted on the rod 34 via an aperture222 such that the second clamp member 54 can be slidably coupled to therod 34. The second clamp member 204 can include a second clampingsurface 224 that can extend substantially parallel to the first clampingsurface 220.

A ramp mechanism 234 can include at least one ramp surface 230, 232between the first and second clamp members 202 and 204 to cause lateraltranslation of the second clamping surface 224 relative to the firstclamping surface 220 in response to the housing 205 moving between theunlocked position and the locked position. Specifically, the rampmechanism 234 can include a first ramp surface 230 and a second rampsurface 232. The first ramp surface 230 can be formed as part of thelock interface member 212 of the first housing portion 206, and thesecond ramp surface 232 can be formed as part of the second clamp member204. The first ramp surface 230 can extend at an acute angle relative tothe axis 33 of the rod 34. The second ramp surface 232 can extend at acomplementary angle to the acute angle of the first ramp surface 230,and can be disposed to engage against the first ramp surface 230.Additional discussion regarding the ramped surfaces 230, 232, theiroperation, and the resulting clamping action can be found in U.S. Pat.No. 9,533,555 issued on Jan. 3, 2017, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

In moving from the unclamped position illustrated in FIG. 15 to theclamped position illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the second ramp surface232 of the second clamp member 204 moves along the first ramp surface230 of the first clamp member 202, causing translation of the secondclamp member 204 relative to and toward the first clamp member 202 andin a direction that is perpendicular to the axis A of the rod 34. Thus,the second clamp member 204 has moved relative to the first clamp member202 in both an axial direction and a direction perpendicular theretofrom FIG. 14 to FIG. 12. In other words, the second clamp member 204 hasundergone both axial and lateral or perpendicular translation ormovement relative to the axis 33 of the rod 34, or relative to the firstclamp member 202.

In the clamped position, the first clamping surface 220 of the firstclamp member 202 engages the inboard side 24 of the flange 20, and thesecond clamping surface 224 of the second clamp member 204 engages theoutboard side 22 of the flange 20 to apply a compressive clamping forceto the flange 20. As illustrated, both the first and second clampingsurfaces, 220 and 224, directly engage against the opposing sides orfaces, 23 and 24, respectively, of the flange 20. In other embodiments,one or both of the first and second clamping surfaces 220 and 224 mayindirectly engage the opposing sides or faces, 23 and 24, respectively,of the flange 20. For example, another component of the tonneau coversystem 10, such as a plastic cover material, might overlay one or bothsides of the flange 20.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled inthe art. Numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples ofspecific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not beemployed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and“having” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described hereinare not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance inthe particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specificallyidentified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood thatadditional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,”“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may bedirectly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element orlayer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast,when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engagedto,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another elementor layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Otherwords used to describe the relationship between elements should beinterpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directlybetween,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein,the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more ofthe associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguishone element, component, region, layer or section from another region,layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numericalterms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearlyindicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region,layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element,component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachingsof the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tonneau cover system for a cargo box of apickup truck, the cargo box comprising a downwardly extending flangewith a downwardly disposed edge, the tonneau cover system comprising: atonneau cover for covering the cargo box; and a clamp to secure thetonneau cover to the cargo box, the clamp comprising: an elongate memberhaving a proximal end pivotably coupled to the tonneau cover; a firstclamp member having a first clamping surface; a second clamp memberslidably coupled to the elongate member and having a second clampingsurface, the second clamp member being slidable along the elongatemember relative to the first clamp member between a locked position andan unlocked position; a ramp mechanism including at least one rampsurface between the first and second clamp members shaped to causelateral translation of the second clamping surface relative to the firstclamping surface in response to the first and the second clamp membersmoving between the unlocked position and the locked position; a lockingmechanism coupled to the first clamp member, wherein the lockingmechanism is movable to engage the elongate member to prevent lateraltranslation of the second clamping surface relative to the firstclamping surface in response to the first and the second clamp membersbeing in the locked position, and the locking mechanism is movable torelease the elongate member to allow lateral translation of the secondclamping surface relative to the first clamping surface in response tothe first and the second clamp members being in the unlocked position;and a biasing member applying a biasing force biasing the first clampmember and the second clamp member toward the proximal end of theelongate member.
 2. The tonneau cover system according to claim 1,wherein the second clamping surface and the first clamping surface arein a clamped position when the first and the second clamp members are inthe locked position.
 3. The tonneau cover system according to claim 2,wherein, in the clamped position, the first clamping surface is inopposed relationship to the second clamping surface to apply a clampingforce therebetween.
 4. The tonneau cover system according to claim 1,wherein the second clamping surface moves toward the first clampingsurface by way of the ramp mechanism as the first and the second clampmembers are placed in the locked position and the second clampingsurface moves away from the first clamping surface by way of the rampmechanism as the first and the second clamp members are placed in theunlocked position.
 5. The tonneau cover system according to claim 1,further comprising a second biasing member between the first and thesecond clamp members and biasing the first and the second clamp memberstoward the unlocked position.
 6. The tonneau cover system according toclaim 1, wherein the second clamp member includes a first housing thatincludes a first contact and a second contact, the first contact ispositioned to engage against the locking mechanism and move the lockingmechanism toward the elongate member as the first and the second clampmembers move from the unlocked position toward the locked position, andthe second contact is positioned to engage against the locking mechanismand move the locking mechanism away from the elongate member as thefirst and the second clamp members move from the locked position towardthe unlocked position.
 7. The tonneau cover system according to claim 1,wherein the first clamp member includes a housing, and the lockingmechanism is pivotably coupled to the housing.
 8. The tonneau coversystem according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member comprises a roddefining an axis, wherein the locking mechanism is movable to engage theelongate member to prevent axial movement along the axis of the firstand second clamp members in response to the first and the second clampmembers being in the locked position.
 9. The tonneau cover systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the elongate member comprises a roddefining an axis, and wherein a first of the at least one ramp surfaceextends at an acute angle relative to the axis and is integral with thefirst clamp member.
 10. The tonneau cover system according to claim 9,wherein a second of the at least one ramp surface extends at acomplementary angle to the acute angle and is integral with the secondclamp member.
 11. The tonneau cover system according to claim 1, whereinthe second clamping surface and the first clamping surface are in aclamped position when the first and the second clamp members are in thelocked position, and wherein the elongate member comprises a roddefining an axis, and both clamping surfaces extend substantiallyparallel to the axis of the rod when in the clamped position.
 12. Thetonneau cover system according to claim 1, wherein both the first clampmember and the second clamp member are mounted on the elongate member.13. The tonneau cover system according to claim 1, wherein the proximalend of the elongate member is pivotably coupled to the tonneau cover viaa barrel member designed to slide along a channel of a tonneau coverrail member.
 14. The tonneau cover system according to claim 1, whereinthe elongate member is a threaded rod, and the locking mechanismcomprised teeth that engage the threaded rod in the locked position. 15.The tonneau cover system according to claim 1, wherein the lockingmechanism is pivotably coupled to the first clamp member.
 16. Thetonneau cover system according to claim 1, wherein the elongate membercomprises a threaded rod, and the biasing member is positioned between anut threaded on an opposing end of the elongate member and the secondclamp member.
 17. The tonneau cover system according to claim 1, whereinthe locking mechanism comprises a pair of locking pawls.
 18. The tonneaucover system according to claim 17, wherein each of the locking pawlsare coupled to the first housing member and pivotable to engage theelongate member in the locked position, and pivotable to release theelongate member in the unlocked position.